Peroxide Explosives
Acro X-ray Technology
Acro Inc. is currently developing a new X-ray
technology that will close the security gap
between the primary screening of luggage
and the unequivocal chemical
identification of their content. The fully
automated security procedure will
dramatically increase the level of security
in primary screening of both carry-on and
checked luggage and minimise the
currently unacceptable level of false
positive and false negative alarm rates.
As aforementioned, the currently used X-
ray technology for primary screening in
airport produce high levels of false alarm
rate because it is based on “effective Z” or
“...CTX machines, which cap to collect a sample of a suspected “average density” as the identification
material or to swipe a suspected surface. parameter. Acro’s proprietary technology is
are commonly deployed for There is a huge potential market for the based on angular dispersion of a focused X-
Acro-PET because it is inexpensive, ray beam that produces a diffraction image
the screening of checked disposable, and highly selective for of a specific volume of interest (VOI), which
peroxides with sensitivity at the range of 5- is defined by the primary screening
luggage are ineffective for 20 micrograms. It is safe, non-toxic, poses machine. The whole process can be fully
no environmental hazards, and it does not automated, without necessitating the
TATP because they require any power source to provide on- manual intervention of the security operator.
the-spot identification. Law enforcement Since most explosive materials, as well as
measure ‘effective Z’ or personnel, first intervention units, other illegal powders, are polycrystalline,
sappers, and military forces in terrorist- their diffraction pattern serves as a
average density...” prone regions would all benefit from the fingerprint that leads to their precise
ability to rapidly and economically identify identification. The X-ray screening solution
prepared from hydrogen peroxide, and TATP in the field. However, perhaps the being developed is designed to be an add-
secondly, the preparation reaction is biggest market for the PET is in on device to resolve issues of false alarm by
reversible, namely, one can take apart transportation security, including airports, the primary screener. While it enjoys the
these explosives and return them to their border crossings, ports, and train and bus advantages of simple, room temperature
raw materials. We know that enzymatic stations, which are all prime targets for operation, high throughput rate, small size
consumption of hydrogen peroxide is very terrorist attacks using TATP. and low cost, its’ most significant advantage
fast and efficient, simply because Acro-PET now has a sister device, the is the ability to positively identify concealed
hydrogen peroxide is a very toxic material Acro-NET, which detects the entire materials and report on their chemical
that is produced routinely in our body and range of the nitro explosives, which composition. This could significantly
must be removed as quickly as possible in include all conventional explosives as alleviate the current problems of peroxide
order to keep us alive. Following a well as improvised ammonium nitrate, explosives detection as well as other illegal
successful demonstration of this reaction ANFO and urea nitrate. The Acro-NET materials in security checkpoints.
in the lab, the actual device we developed can identify the three major groups of
reflects an effort to pack the lab into a explosives at sub-microgram levels, The author is
small size device that would do the job. We including the nitro aromatics (TNT, Professor of
started with a primitive prototype and Tetryl, TNB, Picric acid and its salts), Chemistry at the
improved it all the way up to the the group of nitric esters and Schulich Faculty of
commercial Acro Peroxide Explosive Tester nitramides (dynamite, RDX, HMX, PETN, Chemistry, Technion
(Acro-PET), which is now manufactured Nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, - Israel Institute of
and commercialised by Acro Inc. Smokeless Powder and the plastic Technology, Israel,
The Acro-PET resembles a three-colour explosives, such as C4 and Semtex), and The Scripps
roller pen that releases three chemical and the inorganic nitrates (ammonium Research Institute,
mixtures that change colour upon nitrate, ANFO, urea nitrate). The Acro- La Jolla, California. He is the President
interaction with traces of a peroxide PET and Acro-NET kits are, in effect, of the Israel Chemical Society. He can be
explosive. The highly selective and portable 'micro-laboratories' for the contacted at: keinan@technion.ac.il
sensitive detection is based on enzyme- sensitive, simple, rapid and reliable
catalysed oxidation of an organic field detection and identification of For further information on Acro Inc., visit
substrate by hydrogen peroxide to trace explosives on skin, clothes, www.AcroSec.com
produce a coloured pigment. It is a suitcases, door handles, car surfaces,
simple device, equipped with a silicone and the like.
14 Register now for FREE instant access to ASI online by visiting www.asi-mag.com August 2009 Aviationsecurityinternational
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